After the Break

July 27, 2018

For those of you who think baseball is boring, you haven’t been watching the Chicago Cubs. They must lead the major leagues in come –from- behind victories. For my money nothing is more exciting than pulling victory from defeat. Thursday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks is perfect example. Trailing six to one the Cubs scored two runs in the fifth inning. In the sixth they added another run on a wild pitch strikeout to Baez. Trailing six to four entering the ninth Cubs go to work. With one out David Bote, brought up to replace an injured Kris Bryant, hits a two- run homer to tie the game. Anthony Rizzo follows with the game -winning home run.

The Cubs have gone 5-4 since the break. Their lead in the division remains at 2 1/2 games. However, there are some concerns. The Cubs played reasonably well against St. Louis and then the hitting disappeared in the first three games against Arizona. They may not have won game three without the splendid performance from Jon Lester.  Lester has been good virtually all year and Quintana is doing okay for a number three on a pitching staff. Their number two, Kyle Hendricks is struggling. This not the same guy from the past two years. If this continues you have three holes in your five- man rotation.

Injuries also play a major part, no matter what the sport. The Cubs have two major injuries. Kris Bryant is currently on the 10-day disabled list. He is arguably their best offensive player and you want him in your lineup. The closer, Brandon Morrow, has a biceps injury and his return status is undetermined. Pedro Strop, Carl Edwards Jr. and Steve Cishek have been good but you need your closer.

 

Chicago Tribune columnist Steve Rosenbloom stole my thunder with his piece on finding some sucker to trade for James Shields. He even suggested the White Sox pay a team to take him. There are some other things worth discussing about a team that may not win 50 games.

The injuries the Sox have incurred is sadly to their prospects. In spring training they lost third baseman Jake Burger for the year.  Top outfield prospect Eloy Jimenez has looked really good but has missed many games with leg injuries. Prospect Luis Robert started the season 10 weeks late after a thumb injury. Another outfielder with potential, Micker Adolfo, is out for the remainder of the season. Currently rated the number fifty-seven prospect, pitcher Alec Hansen, developed forearm softness and began an extended spring training in April. Finally, future closer Zack Burdi just had Tommy John surgery.

First- round pick, shortstop Nick Madrigal, can’t reach the majors fast enough. I think we’ve seen the best of Tim Anderson. Even with 13 home runs his OPS is only .704.  He is second in most errors by a shortstop with 14 Last year he had 28 He may have 21 stolen bases and could have more if his on- base percentage was higher than .296. Alas, he is only half the problem on the left side of the infield. Yomar Sanchez has an on base percentage of.309. Despite leading the league with nine triples, his OPS is .700. What makes this a bigger problem is I don’t see a replacement on the current roster.